Enes Kanter says NBA ‘canceled’ him over his criticism of China’s human rights abuses

NBA personality and outspoken human rights activist Enes Kanter Freedom appeared to agree with conservative lawmakers on Twitter who allege the NBA ‘canceled’ Freedom over his public criticism of Communist China.

The NBA center, who was traded from the Boston Celtics to the Houston Rockets last week, but was promptly waived by the Rockets, who claim they only acquired Kanter Freedom for “salary-matching reasons.”

Conservative lawmakers took to social media to decry the decision. “Former Kentucky Wildcat @EnesFreedom is a champion for human rights & freedom,” Tweeted GOP Rep. Andy Barr (KY). “He is still at the top of his game. Now, the @NBA is disgracefully punishing him for his criticism of the brutality of the Chinese Communist Party.”

Kanter Freedom retweeted Barr’s comments on Monday morning. He also retweeted the Energy & Commerce GOP, who wrote, “Enes Kanter Freedom is faced with the task of finding a new home in a league that has alienated him over his pro-freedom messaging against the Chinese government. Free speech should be encouraged in the United States—not deterred.”

The timing of the remarks and Kanter Freedom’s trade come as The American Conservative Union announced that the NBA player would be speaking at the CPAC conference in Florida later this month.

On Tuesday, just days after accepting the invitation to speak at CPAC, Kanter Freedom decided to decline the engagement, telling The Washington Post “I need to figure out this NBA stuff first.”